Michael Capuano passes on Massachusetts Senate run

Massachusetts Rep. Michael Capuano has decided not to run in the special election to replace John Kerry in the Senate, he said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.

“After careful consideration, I have decided not to enter the race for US Senate,” he said. “Instead, I look forward to focusing on the important issues facing the new Congress. My current work in the House and whatever opportunities the future may hold, afford me the greatest honor of my life, fighting for the Citizens of the Commonwealth.”

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The sole Democrat in the race so far is Rep. Ed Markey, a veteran Massachusetts congressman whose sizeable war chest and flurry of endorsements from national and state Democrats have helped discourage other Democrats from running.

Markey, who announced his decision to run in late December, received endorsements from Kerry himself, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Vicki Kennedy shortly thereafter – an attempt by Democrats to clear the field for Markey and avoid a potentially costly and damaging primary. No Republicans have announced their intention to run thus far, though former Sen. Scott Brown is one likely candidate.

At the time, Capuano pushed back on the idea that such endorsements for Markey would keep him from entering the race.

“It seems that the big names of our party are trying to choose our nominee for us,” Capuano said in a statement last month in response to those endorsements. “When I became mayor of Somerville the establishment wasn’t with me. When I became a member of Congress the establishment wasn’t with me. If I make this run it will be the same way – from the streets up, not from the elite down.”

State Sen. Ben Downing, who was also seriously considering a run, announced last week that he would not challenge Markey. Rep. Stephen Lynch, another often mentioned potential candidate, has still not announced whether he’ll run.

Assuming Kerry is confirmed as secretary of State, the special election will take place in late spring or June.